Vintage original 8 x 10 in. US keybook photograph from the 1920's New York-set political- and theatrical-themed silent film comedy/drama romance, STEPPING ALONG, released in 1926 by First National Pictures and directed by Charles Hines.
 
The image features a exterior night-time shot of the "fast-stepping young politician," Johnny Rooney (Johnny Hines), standing next to Prince Ferdinand Darowitsky (Edmund Breese) inside the back of an open vintage automobile as they take an oath to be true to their cause of "Anti Everything," The license plate to the right of their slogan sign is also dated 1926 and is from New York. This linen-backed keybook photograph is in very fine+ condition.
 
*"Stepping Along is a lost 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Hines and starring Johnny Hines, Mary Brian and William Gaxton."
**(source: Wikipedia)
 
*"According to information in the Warner Bros. Archive at USC, the film's scenario was based on "The Knickerbocker Kid" (also known as "The Dancing Mayor"), an unpublished magazine story written by Matt Taylor.
 
In the City Hall section of New York City, Johnny Rooney sells newspapers and dreams of a future with Molly, who has ambitions for a Broadway career, while Johnny hopes to become a successful politician. Boss O'Brien, of the Sugar Lane district, invites Johnny to a political outing at an amusement park and informs the young man that he is going to run him for assemblyman against Frank Moreland. Meanwhile, Moreland fosters Molly's footlight career, which ends in disaster. Heartbroken, she leaves the district. With election night growing near, Moreland steals Johnny's birth certificate and tries to prove him ineligible for candidacy; Johnny pursues the rival in a fire chief's car, unwittingly kidnaping a foreign prince. The plot against Johnny is revealed, and he is elected and happily united with Molly."
*(source: AFI Catalog of Feature Films)
 
YM3RB